We begin June with lots of new greenery. The recent spell of warm weather has kickstarted new growth in both the trees and undergrowth. Much of the understory across the farm is now dominated by the white flowers of cow parsley and a wide variety of wildflowers can be spotted all across Mudchute including buttercups, ribwort plantain, cutleaf cranesbill, red campion and many more.

A tiny green Phyllobius weevil.

Warm weather and developing flora have also coaxed invertebrates of all sorts out of hibernation. The leafy understory is full of tiny beetles, flies, bugs and other invertebrates. Overhead, tender young tree leaves provide food for caterpillars, which will in turn, feed baby birds.

Many young birds will begin to leave the nest this month.

All across the farm, birds will be hurriedly carrying invertebrate prey to their nestlings. Those who began nesting early will already have youngsters beginning to fledge. You may come across young birds who are in the process of leaving the nest. If you do encounter a baby bird without its parents, keep a watchful eye, but this is likely part of the normal fledging process and the young birds should be left alone as its parents are likely searching for food and continuing to feed them. For more information, please read the following advice pages from the RSPB.

Down on the ponds, damselflies and dragonflies will also be appearing, emerging as larvae from the waters where they have overwintered to moult into winged adults. Within the ponds, tadpoles and newt larvae are growing rapidly on algae and vegetation underwater. These incredible creatures were the focus of a recent identification workshop held here at Mudchute and run by FrogLife (read more about the course here from Tower Habitats).

See more of just some of the creatures we’ve encountered and don’t forget that you can share your own finds with us via twitter, facebook or flickr!

Buff-tailed bumblebee on white dead nettle.

Goose grass in the undergrowth.

Sawfly larva.

Cuckoo spit.

Tiny green Phyllobius weevil.

Hoverfly on red campion.

A wild mustard relative.

Ladybird taking flight.

Azure damselflies should be regulars on the pond in the month to come.

Caterpillar on cow parsley.

Common carder bee on thistle.

A closer look at the mating weevils.

Ribwort plantain in flower.

Fly on goose grass.

Irises in flower surround the ponds.

Cow parsley flowers and seeds.

Red Campion.

Common carder bee on white dead nettle.

Nail gall on lime.

Ash flowers have now formed slender windborne seeds.

Bracket fungus on a stump.

Bug nymph.

A sawfly larva taking advantage of the new foliage.

Emerging mushrooms.

Cutleaf cranesbill.

Only a few trees are still in blossom.

Many young birds will begin to leave the nest this month.

Cuckoo spit, a white frothy liquid secreted by the immature nymphs of the froghopper, on spurge.

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About

We are Mudchute Park & Farm, the largest city farm in London with 32 acres of countryside in the middle of the Isle of Dogs. Offering a bit of countryside in the city, we are open to the public all year free of charge.